[3] Australasia, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden each made their first appearance in the event (though Australia had previously competed, in 1896).

The United States made its fourth appearance, the only nation to have competed in the men's 1500 metres at each Games to that point.

In the second semifinal Mel Sheppard set a new Olympic record at 4:05.0 only to be improved in the next run by Norman Hallows, who ran 4:03.4.

Butterfield and Lee were ahead of Sheppard and Halstead at the bell, but the American pair proved the better runners on the straight and passed the English duo.

Both Hallows and Lunghi beat the Olympic record set by Sheppard in the previous heat; the pace caused the remaining four competitors to drop out.

McGough led for the greater part of the race, with Loney and Coe passing him late and battling to the finish.

Raugeneau pulled up lame on the second lap, leaving Tait to win by fifty yards.

He won by about 2 yards and equalled the Olympic record that Hallows had set in the first round.